Device for starting horses at races.



No. 673,997. Patented My |4, mul. c. A. CHAPMAN. DEVlCE FDH STARTINGHORSES A T RACES.

(Application led Sept. 18, 1900.)

(No Modal.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

ma "cams PETERS co. PNow'LlTno., wAsmNeYoN. n. c,

No. l673,997'. Patented may I4, |901.

c.. A. CHAPMAN.

DEVICE FUE STARTING HORSES AT RACES.

(Application filed Sept. 18, 1900.) (llo Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

n l M @lilllllllll @j mi f @W5 W'tnessesz' l il Z 2 lgen or ar 6.5' aman l y/u's orngy.

THE Nonms Pinzas co. Pno'oumo.. WASHINGTON. n. c,

No. 673,997. Patented May |4, |901.

Y c. A. CHAPMAN.

DEVICE FOR STARTING HORSES AT RACES.

(Application led Sept. 18, 1900.)

3 sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

linterna Sintes niet trice.

CHARLES ARTHUR CHAPMAN, OF IIORLEY, ENGLAND.

DEVICE FOR STARTING HORSES AT RACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,997, dated May 14,1901.

Application filed September 18, 1900. Serial No. 30,400. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that LCHARLns ARTHUR CHAP- MAN, gentleman, a subject of theQueen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Glenthorne, Horley, inthe county of Surrey, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Devices for Starting Horses or the Like at Races; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof.

This invention relates to an improved device for starting horses or thelike at races; and it has for its object to produce a gate or gates forsuch purpose, which may be of very light construction and easily takenapart for storage or transport, and finally to provide a means forchecking the gates when fully open and preventing any rebound of thesaid gates, which would be likely to injure the horses.

In order that the invention may be the better understood, drawings areappended, in which- Figure l is a front elevational view of a pair ofgates constructed according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a planof the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of an alternative formV ofdevice for checking the gates as they open. Fig. 4 is a side view ofsame. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the checkingdevice. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section of the gates on lineAB, Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is an end View, partly in section, of a supportingbracket or arm for the cords supporting the netting for catching thegate. Fig. 8 is a back view of one the gates, to an enlarged scale,whenopen. Fig. 9 is a device for checking the rebound of the gate. Fig. l0is a plan of an alternative means for operating the gates. Fig. ll is anenlarged view illustratinga detail of construction of part of the meansfor actuating the gate. Fig. l2 is an enlarged view also showing adetail of the construction of the means for actuating the gates. Fig. 13is an enlarged elevational view of one of the adjustable hinges for thegate. Fig. 14 is a plan of Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawings,1 l are posts,preferably of iron, of thesection shown in Figs. 2, 8, 9, and l0, upon which are secured theadjustable collars 2,provided with lugs 3, slotted and through whichpass the studs 4, by which the collars are adjusted and secured upon theposts l. The posts may either drop into sockets let into the ground orthey may be secured to plates 5, flush with the surface of the ground,bolts or studs being tapped thereinto and passing through plates 6,formed at the ends of the posts l.

7 represents projecting plates cast or otherwise secured to the collars2 and drilled at their outer ends to form eyes for the reception of thegate-pin S. f v

The gates are preferably made up of a number of lengths of hollowv rodsor tubing, which screw into the sockets 10, by this means permitting theparts to be readily disconnected or connected, as the case may be, whenit is desired to erect the gates or dismount them for transport orstorage. Instead of screwing the parts together they may be permanentlyconnected by brazing into the sockets 10, or the sockets may be formedwith lugs thereon, which are slotted, and so form a clamp, the tubesbeing simply inserted therein and a stud or the like passing through thelugs tightened to secure the tube.

The transverse section of the gate is, as shown in Fig. 6, triangular,the hase of the triangle being toward the horses, and said gates aretapered throughout their length, forming in outline the frustum of atriangular pyramid the base of which is attached to the post 1. As willbe seen from the drawings, the horizontal members l1 l2 are connected atintervals by means of lateral tubular stays 13 13, which former staysand the member 14 are in turn connected by the inclined or diagonaltransverse stays 15, Figs. l, 2, and 6. These stays may also beconnected by any of vthe methods before described.

The outer end of each gate is provided with an adjustable bar l,consisting of a vertical tubular piece, to which are secured thehorizontal tubes 18 19, adapted to telescope into the tubes Il l2, andsecured therein by setstuds 20. By this means the gates may be readilylengthened to suit the width of the course. Secured to the lower memberl2, at

or near the inner end thereof, is a clamp 2l, provided with a hook 22,to which is attached one end of a rubber cord-23, passing therefromaround the sheave 24, which is secured by means of the clamps 25, formedupon the IOC 6o gates when such rebound takes place.

spindle thereof, to the members 12 15 or 12 14 at some suitable pointfrom the end of the gate. The cord 23 after leaving the sheave issecured to an eye 26, formed upon the plate 27, carried by the lowerstay 28, the purpose of which stay will be hereinafter more fullydescribed. The plate 27 is secured against the pull of the rubber cordby means of a suitable stay 29, secured at one end to the plate 27 andat the other attached to the outer post. (See Fig. 8.)

Arranged parallel to the gate when the same is open are one, two, ormore horizontal ropes, wires, or the like 28 30, of which the upper andlower ones are secured at their respective inner and outer ends to theposts 1 and to a second post 32, arranged in a line with the post l.(See Fig. 8.) The post 1, as aforesaid, has collars 2 secured thereon,upon which collars are formed horizontal projections or arms 33 ofinverted-T shape and hollow to receive a piece of T-shaped angleiron 34,adjustably secured therein by means of the pins 35. rPhe post 32 is alsoprovided with collars' 36, similar in all essential respects to thecollars 2, but with the projection for the angle-iron only. The wires orthe like members 28 30, lying longitudinally of the gate when open, aresecured to the ends of vthe angle-irons by means of the coiled springs37, or a rubber spring may be used for this purpose. Stretching acrossverticallyfrom the wires 28 30 are two or more rubber cords or the like38, which being Without solid backing are adapted to yield freely in thedirection of the gates movement, so arranged that the gate when it iiiesopen shall strike against the same and its further forward movement bearrested. To

increase the eiiiciency of the cords, I may pro# vide a net 39, (showndotted in Fig. 8,) which jwould serve to arrest the gate also, inaddition to forming a guard vin the event of the cords giving Way underthe force of the blow given by the gates. The net would be secured tothe two wire-supports 28 30.

From the foregoing it will be seen that upon the gates being closed therubber cord 23 is stretched, and the gates being secured together bymeans of a suitable catch the course is closed and may be held so untilthe signal to start the race is given, when the device alluded to isoperated to release the gates, which thereupon under the traction of thecord 23 ily open until arrested by the rubber Y cords 38.

As it is found in practice that there is a considerable rebound on thepart of the gates, caused by the elasticity of the rubber-checkingdevice, I provide a means to retain the This means, as illustrated inFigs. 8 and 9, consists of a clamp secured to the post 32 and providedwith a projecting horizontal arm 40, to the end of which is pivotallysecured the lever 41, the outerend of which projects into vthe path ofthe end 16 of the gate. To prevent injury to said gate, apiece of rubberor other suitable material to form a buffer may be provided either uponthe said piece 16 or upon the end of lever 41. To cause the lever alwaysto occupy the desired position, I form upon the arm 40 a stop 42,against which the inner end of the arm abuts, and is held there by meansof the rubber or other spring 43, secured to the end of the lever and tothe outer end of the arm 44, respectively. By this means when the piece16 strikes against the outer end of the lever 41 the said lever willyield thereto, permitting the gate to pass; but upon the return of thegate the lever prevents any movement beyond it, because its inner end isin contact with the abutmentor stop 42.

To secure the actuating-cord 23 to its plate 27, I provide the same atthe ends with a special clamping device, consisting of two plates 45 46,bent to encircle the cord, but such bent portion being, when the platesare secured together, less iu diameter than the diameter of the cord 23.When it is desired to attach the clamp thereto, the cord is stretched,thereby reducing its diameter, and is kept so until the clamp has beensecured thereon, when the tension on the rubber being relaxed a head 47is formed at t-he end of the clamp and prevents the withdrawal of therubber when under tension. An eye 48a is secured to the clamp, and theplate and clamp are secured together by means of a hook 49.

Instead of the rubber cord herein described for actuating the gates Imay employ a coiled spring 48, encircling the post l and secured theretoat its inner end and at its outer attached to the hinge-pin 8, (seeFigs. 8 and 10,) it being understood that although the two devicesareillustrated in the formerfigure one only would in practice beemployed.

To relieve the strain upon the hinge-pins -of the gate, I may providethe posts 1 with collars 50, upon which is a horizontal projection 51,provided with an upwardly-extending pin or support 52, the center lineof the said support and that of the gate-pin being coincident. From thesupport I may lead oneor more suitable stays 53, provided at one endwith a collar or the like 54, loosely fitting the support, upon which isfixed a collar 55, and secured at their outer ends to the gate. By thismeans the stays will move with the gates, and the said gates may be madeof much lighter material than would be the case were all the Weight ofthe gate to be supported by the hinge-pins.

The gates, as well as the sheaves 24, may be provided withball-bearings.

-The end tubes 16 of the gates when the same are closed lie one in frontof the other, as shownin Fig. 2, and are held together by means of asuit-able latch.

As an alternative means for arresting the gates, under which the net orrubber cords may be dispensed with, I provide the gate with one or moredevices consisting of short lengths of rubber or other material, whichIOO IIO

may be attached at any convenient point or points to the bottom rail ofthe gate, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. From these it will beseen that the short length of rubber 56 is provided at each end with asuitable eye, attached either directly to the rings 57 57 upon theclamps 5S 58, secured to the aforesaid bottom rail, or it may have ateach end a.coiled spring, the springs being secured to the aforesaidclamps. One or more of the aforesaid rubbers may be secured to eachgate, and they are arranged so as to be below the bottom rail and sodisposed that upon the gates flying open the catch or catches carried bythe posts 60 shall engage with the said cords 56 and arrest the furtherprogress of the gate. The catches are preferably of the form illustratedby the drawings, from which it will be seen that they consist ofsole-plates 6l, upon which are cast or otherwise formed the L-shapedarms 62, to the forward end of which is pivotally secured the hangingplate 63, free to swing only in one directionthat is, in the directionof motion of the gate when opening, and prevented from swinging in theopposite direction by the projection 64, formed upon theboss 65, bywhich the said swinging plate is secured to the arm. Formed upon a boss66 at the end ot' the arm is a second projection 67, adapted to normallyabut against the first, 60, and so prevent any movement other than asabove stated. The plates are secured to the top of suitable posts, ofwhich in the case of a number of rubber loops being employed there wouldbe one for each loop,` the posts being of such height as to permit thelower rail of the gate to clear the arm freely in its passage thereover.By means of the above-described arrangement when the gate is releasedand iiies open the rubber loop will comeinto contact with the dependingpivoted plate and, raising the same, will pass thereunder, allowing theplate to assume its normal position, as shown in Figs. 3 and Il, so thatwhen the further progress of the gate is checked by the rubber cominginto contact with the vertical part of the arm 62 the rebound ofthe gateWill be limited by the engagement of the rubber 56 with the swingingplate 63, which, as aforesaid, will yield only in a direction agreeingwith the advancing movement of the gate. By this means the gate may beoperated without using a net and at the same time damage to the gate,

which would arise were it to be arrested by.

some unyielding obstacle, may be avoided. The cord for operating thegate would 4in this instance be secured to the post, as shown in Fig. 3.

To disengage the rubber from the catch, the swinging plate is lifted andthe cord passed thereunder.

I may, if desired, reverse the positions of the catch and loop byplacing the catch upon the gate and securing the loop in any con,

Venient manner to the top of the postor posts,

as the case may be; It will,however, be understood that the precise formand arrangement described herein and illustrated by the appendeddrawings can be more or less modified, as may be found in practice to bedesirable.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is l. In a device for starting horses or the like atraces;a gate movablysupported at oneend to turn across the track; a spring incontact with and secured to said gate to open it; and an elasticchecking device extending between end supports to receive lthe im pactof the gate when opened.

2. In a device for starting horses or the like at races; a gate movablysupported at one end to turn across the track; a spring connected tosaid gate to open it; and an elastic checking device extending betweenend supports to receive the impact of the gate at or near its outer endwhen opened.

3. In a device for starting horses or the like at races, a gate movablysupported at one end to turn across the track; a spring connected tosaid gate to open it; and one or more members lying longitudinally ofthe gate when open extending from .its support and carrying an elasticchecking device to receive its impact.

4. In a device for starting horses or the like at races, a gate movablysupported at one end to turn across the track; a spring connected tosaid gate to open it; members lying longitudinally of the gate whenopen; and elastic members extending between said longitudinal members toreceive the impact of the gate.

5. In a device for startinghorses or the like at races, a gate movablysupported at one end to turn across the track; a spring connected tosaid gate to open it; and one or more members lying longitudinally ofthe gate when open carrying an elastic checking device and a net.

6. In a device for starting horses or the like at races, a gate movablysupported at one end to turn across the track; a spring connected tosaid gate to open it; a checking device to receive the impact of thegate When open; a pivoted latch situated in the path of the gate; a stoptherefor; and yieldable means for hol/ding said latch against the stop.

7. In a device forstarting horses or the like at races, a gate movablysupported at one end to turn across the track; a spring connected tosaid gate to open it; a checking device to receive the impact of thegate when open; and a connection between the spring and checking device.

8. In a device for starting horses or the like at races, a gate movablysupported at one end to t-urn across the track; an elastic cordconnected to said gate to open it; and a checking device to receive theimpact of the gate IOO IIO

when open, said elastic cord being also connected to the checkingdevice.

9. In a device for starting horses or the like at races; a gate formedof longitudinal rods secured together in the form of a frustum of atriangular pyramid, the base of which is secured to the gate-post.

l0. In a device for starting horses or the like at races; a gate formedof longitudinal rods secured together by sockets in the form of afrustum of a triangular pyramid, the base of which is secured to thegate-post.

11. In a device for starting horses or the like at races; a gate formedof longitudinal rods secured together in the form of a frustum of atriangular pyramid, the base of which is secured to the gate-post; andlateral stays between the longitudinal members.

l2. In a device for starting horses or the like at races; a gate formedof longitudinal rods secured together in the form of a frust

